Wheels in motion for bike funding

Budget slashed by one committee may be saved by another Plan calls for 1,000 kilometres of paths, lanes over 10 years

The city has fallen woefully behind its plan to create 1,000 kilometres of bikeways but, today, it may start to catch up. The city’s finance committee last week slashed the bike plan’s modest 2006 budget from $3 million to $2.2 million. The works committee meets today to consider raising it back to $3 million by taking money elsewhere from its budget, said Councillor Adam Giambrone ( Ward 18, Davenport). A summertime review of the Toronto Bike Plan by city staff revealed that after three years, the 10- year plan had stalled and was behind schedule. The plan is to act as a guide for the development and implementation of cycling programs and facilities. A key element is to develop 1,000 kilometres of paths and lanes — the bikeway network. The network would include 495 kilometres of bike lanes, 249 kilometres of off- road paths and 260 kilometres of signed routes. The cost of the 10- year plan is about $65 million. Giambrone admits the $3 million is not enough to catch up right away, but it would help kickstart a three- year plan in which capital funding would rise to $6 million for 2007 and $6 million for 2008.

“ We’re increasing the money steadily to get us in line with the bike plan,” said Giambrone.

For $3 million, the city could complete 15 projects, adding 28.4 kilometres of bike lanes, created mostly by painting white lines and diamonds and adding signs on the side of roads. In addition three kilometres of off- road paths could be built, the most significant being the first leg of the Finch Hydro Corridor trail, a two-kilometre section between Keele and Dufferin.

For $ 2.2 million, the city could build only 21.1 kilometres of bike lanes and would have to slow design of future off- road paths, including a 12- kilometre stretch of the Finch Hydro Corridor between Black Creek and the East Don trail systems.

Anything less than $3 million for the plan would be a devastating blow for cyclists, said Martin Koob, a member of the Toronto Cycling Committee.

“ If the funding for the $3 million doesn’t get approved it puts the funding for the three- year strategy in jeopardy,” said Koob. “That means next year, we’ll have the same issues. It means the bike plan won’t get built in 10 years or 15 years.

“It means they won’t really have started.”